Woking v NFU (NL)

Ferriby create a little more history at Woking on when they play their first live game on television. The game is being broadcast by Vanarama National League partner BT Sport.

The game is a key match with both sides in the relegation zone and a win for either could see them climb out of the bottom four.

Woking are in 21st place with 13 points, just two ahead of The Villagers. They have not been short of goals this season with 26 finding the opposition net for one of the better scoring records in the division. Those goals have been shared amongst 13 players. However, they have been nowhere near as good defensively and have conceded 39 times in their 18 league games.

They had a very good FA Cup win at Stockport County last Saturday. Their league form does not match their cup form as they have not won in their last seven league games. They have had two draws and five defeats in that sequence.

Ferriby moved off the bottom of the table with their point against Wrexham last Saturday and will travel to Woking with some confidence. That draw brought an end to a run of eight successive league defeats. It was a due reward after some good performances in which Ferriby had had little fortune.

Manager Steve Housham was happier for that a while after the game,
“Full credit to the lads. We’ve been working hard and we knew it wouldn’t be long before we got a result. It’s been a tough month for the boys but we’ve kept going and finally got a reward. We’ll happily take a point against full-time opposition.”

Ferriby thoroughly deserved their point against Wrexham. It was another good performance and it got its due reward. Keeping a clean sheet will have done wonders for the team’s confidence. They have conceded fewer goals than Woking this season but have obviously struggled to score.

The lack of goals is a concern but the side has created chances in virtually every match. Another half-dozen goals could have seen The Villagers in mid-table given that a number of their defeats have been by a single goal. This shows how narrow the margins are in the Vanarama National League.

Looking towards Saturday’s game Housham commented,
“We’re away from home. We’ve got a chance to express ourselves and enjoy the game. Our standards have been great recently. We’ve been beaten by moments of class from full-time teams. Being in front of the cameras [on Saturday] is a real chance to show everyone how good we are.”

As well as the performance against Wrexham, it was also good to hear Ferriby’s fans really urging on their team. Housham has congratulated the fans on a number of occasions this season for their support. The players acknowledge that support after the game and it is does lift them during the games.

Housham has virtually his whole squad to choose from with only Curtis Bateson definitely out. Connor Oliver will, hopefully, be fit after missing the last two games through injury. Vinny Mukendi took a knock to his calf in Tuesday’s East Riding senior Cup match but should be available.